Six Nations healthcheck: how are the teams shaping up?

Lamour, right, could be thrown into the Ireland side as early as the second gameLorraine O'Sullivan/PA

With just five days before the tournament kicks off, we asked John Westerby to assess how each of the six nations are shaping up.

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Ireland

Form guideUnbeaten in their past seven Tests, a sequence starting with the win that thwarted England’s grand-slam hopes in March and finishing with three victories in the autumn. However, their schedule was not as tough as most, overcoming South Africa, Fiji and Argentina.

Coach’s biggest headacheOnly one victory away from Dublin in the past two seasons — against Italy last year — is an itch that Joe Schmidt would like to be scratched. The opener against France in Paris is an ideal opportunity.

Major selection issuesThe absence of Seán O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip in the back row should…

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